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Push for Gross National Happiness: Thailand


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JUNTA'S ROADMAP
Push for Gross National Happiness

Nakarin Srilert,
Panya Thiewsangwan
The Nation

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Troops clean sidewalks around Victory Monument yesterday after efforts to deter anti-coup rallies at the site. The activity was assisted by police and the Ratchathewi district office.

Prayuth says things moving in right direction, hopes conflicts will finally end

BANGKOK: -- The Junta chief suggested yesterday that the country's economic and social development plan be amended so that the policy aims to boost gross national happiness.


General Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), made the suggestion during a meeting of key junta figures and the heads of various state agencies, including the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Budget Bureau, the Finance Ministry, and the Prime Minister's Office.

He also assigned relevant state agencies to conduct a "Happiness Index" since the coup on May 22.

Meanwhile, the junta chief has seen positive changes in the political conflict that has gone on over the past nine years, a source said yesterday. The commander expressed satisfaction at what the military has done since the May 22 coup in a bid to bring about reconciliation between the feuding sides, the source said.

Prayuth, who chaired yesterday's meeting, said that to further push for national reconciliation a reform council would be set up and new laws needed to be issued so that the goal could be achieved, according to the source.

"General Prayuth said things have been going in the right direction. He hoped that the conflict between people of different political colours will end eventually," the source said.

A centre of reconciliation for national reform will be set up, with the Interior Ministry and the Internal Security Operations Command acting as the main driving force and governors the hosts in their provinces, the source said.

The ISOC will convene a meeting tomorrow about the guidelines and activities for reconciliation. The SET Index yesterday reacted positively to the junta's economic 'roadmap' with a rise of 25.21 points to close at 1,440.94. Turnover was Bt55.58 billion.

At the meeting yesterday, held at Royal Thai Army headquarters on Rajdamnoen Avenue, the junta put emphasis on urgently boosting the economy, and urged people to live peacefully.

Its disbursement plan for the 2014 budget will be forwarded for approval in the next two weeks. It says this should boost national 'happiness'.

The NCPO chief gave additional policies for the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan that focus on people living together happily.

The NCPO spokesman said the economic 'roadmap' focused on the remaining budget for the 2014 fiscal year, as there were legal difficulties over budget disbursement. Now, disbursement would be decided by the NCPO and they expected it would take two weeks to get certain information.

"The NCPO chief says that speeding up the disbursement will be good for the economy and can make people happier," NCPO deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said.

After "solutions" were found for the 2013/14 budget, the 2014/15 budget would be put up for review straight away with a focus on necessities, budget management and continuity of annual expenditure to drive the economy. The NCPO has assigned related agencies to study projects within two weeks and propose them later.

Infrastructure projects under the Bt2-trillion loan package would need to be studied in terms of what are priorities with national benefits and acceptance by the people. Public hearings were also needed for impact assessments on these projects.

The advantages or disadvantages of high-speed trains also needed to be studied and sources of finance should not affect fiscal discipline and public debt levels.

Double-track rail lines would certainly be given the go ahead. However, funding would be sought by the Budget Bureau and the figure had not been fixed yet.

Some projects from the Bt350-billion water management scheme would also be implemented.

"The NCPO will focus on the King's advice for water management - to help store water and prevent floods. Soldiers will carry out urgent projects and that could reduce corruption, the NCPO spokesman said.

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-- The Nation 2014-06-03

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To disolve the intense hatred of different sides in the coloured political system here, will take more than a few weeks.....

So many people are so indoctrinated and mind changed, that change will be slow......

Education is the only way as I see it....from the bottom up.....

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There is little doubt that there has been a significant improvement in the overall political situation and public behavior. What is desperately needed now is education and not indoctrination.

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Since everyone here smiles I just assumed that they were happy?


Will they set goals for the “Happiness Index”? “You vill be happy, (or else you will be sent to the ISOC ‘reconciliation center’).”


I think this calls for a new Ministry level appointment, “Minister of Happiness”.


Will TV dramas have more “happiness” rather than the current abundance of anger, hatred, Sakdina, dark-skinned actors in menial roles, back-stabbing, money-grubbing, lying, slapping of females, rich people, Ferarris, mansions, first family fighting second family? Nah.


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Following or trying to follow the example of Bhutan.

As usual Thailand is the hub of imitation as opposed to innovation.

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So what! Many countries around the world follow ideas from other countries if it works for them.

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So what! Many countries around the world follow ideas from other countries if it works for them.

Well, we all know that Thailand is unique so only native ideas are really acceptable.

No problem, but maybe best to omit #7 as a metric in the Thai GNH index:

Political Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of political metrics such as the quality of local democracy, individual freedom, and foreign conflicts.

The Hub of Happiness.

Cue the Pharrell Williams hit...Actually "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. might be more appropriate. ;)

Edited by lomatopo
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Happiness is a frame of mind...some people find happiness under the most dire conditions...some seem to be determined to never be happy...Be Happy...Don't Worry!

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i like the part of soldiers doing the work to stop corruption..and they can actually gain a skill at the same time..like an apprentership i have almost forgotten about the dems/ptp since the coup..people in our village seem better..no more loud speakers spewing rubbish ..very calm i like that.good morning everybody..wai2.gif

GTG, is your husband as happy as you up there in the village?smile.png

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